MLB News

Red Sox-Yankees rivalry reboots on MLB.TV

By
Oliver MacklinMLB.com

One of the longest-tenured and most storied rivalries in sports continues as the Yankees welcome the Red Sox to the Bronx tonight to open up a four-game series as part of an abbreviated 10-game slate streaming live on MLB.TV.

New York leads the season series between the American League East foes, 8-7, but it's Boston that has a leg up in the division standings. This is the final regular-season series between the teams, thus making it a potentially pivotal set should either team earn more than a split of the four contests.

One of the longest-tenured and most storied rivalries in sports continues as the Yankees welcome the Red Sox to the Bronx tonight to open up a four-game series as part of an abbreviated 10-game slate streaming live on MLB.TV.

New York leads the season series between the American League East foes, 8-7, but it's Boston that has a leg up in the division standings. This is the final regular-season series between the teams, thus making it a potentially pivotal set should either team earn more than a split of the four contests.

Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (4-4, 4.19 ERA) gets things started for the Red Sox, who are looking to replicated his previous start at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 11. Despite settling for a no-decision, the 24-year-old held the Yankees scoreless over six innings while allowing two hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.

Fellow lefty CC Sabathia (10-5, 3.82) gets the ball for the Yankees as he tries to keep his solid season going. The veteran hurler has been especially dominant versus the Red Sox in 2017, winning all three of his starts against them while giving up just two runs in 20 innings (0.90 ERA).

First pitch for tonight's tilt is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Eastern Time.

Watch every out-of-market regular season game live on MLB.TV Premium. With nearly two dozen features for subscribers to access and interact, including the best picture quality at 60 frames per second, choice of home or away broadcasts, live game DVR, and multi-game viewing, MLB.TV is supported by more than 400 devices. Monthly and Single Team subscriptions are also available.

Here's what else to watch for throughout the day (all times ET):

Neutral site: TEX@HOU, 1:10 p.m.

The Rangers and Astros will play the final game of their three-game series at Tropicana Field because of weather complications in Houston caused by Hurricane Harvey. The Astros announced Wednesday they will return home to host a doubleheader versus the Mets on Saturday with the final game Sunday.

"I really thank the crowd for coming out," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said after Tuesday night's 12-2 loss to the Rangers. "Just having the number of fans that we did that pledged their support, I'm sure they donated their time and their money just to come out to a unique series. I really appreciate the people here that did that."

The Rangers send Nick Martinez (3-5, 5.26) to the hill for the intrastate rivalry series finale. The righty hopes to turn things around on the last day of August, in a month in which he has given up 15 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings.

The Astros counter with right-hander Collin McHugh (2-2, 3.63), who makes his eighth start of the year and is coming off back-to-back wins. The 30-year-old spent nearly four months on the disabled list (right elbow impingement) to begin the season and took some time to settle in, but he has allowed just three earned runs in his last 17 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers and D-backs wrap up their three-game series with a matinee matchup as Los Angeles seeks to threaten the all-time record for wins in a season (116), and Arizona looks to pad its lead for a National League Wild Card spot. Kenta Maeda (12-5, 3.76) toes the rubber opposite Arizona's Zack Greinke (15-6, 3.14) for the finale.

Maeda has pitched well of late, going 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA in five August starts. However, he has struggled versus the D-backs this year, having allowed 11 earned runs in 14 innings against Arizona.

Greinke has not been himself this month, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, but he still has 33 strikeouts in 30 innings across five starts. The 33-year-old has had a tough time figuring out the Dodgers' potent lineup as well. Los Angeles has scored eight earned runs in 11 2/3 frames off Greinke this season.

Double G takes on Brew Crew: WSH@MIL, 8:10 p.m.

Few National League pitchers have had more impressive seasons than the Nationals' Gio Gonzalez. The left-hander is 13-5 with a 2.40 ERA overall in what is shaping up to be perhaps the best season of his career.

Gonzalez has been even more un-hittable of late, stringing together five consecutive victories. He's allowed just three earned runs in 34 1/3 frames (0.79 ERA) during that span.

Gonzalez faces the Brewers and right-hander Zach Davies (15-7, 3.91), who has pieced together a very nice second half as Milwaukee vies for a postseason spot. Davies is 5-3 with a 2.28 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break with just two home runs allowed in 59 1/3 innings.